Eight ball

Peter McKiernan scored twice as Cliftonville Olympic stretched their lead at the top of the Premiership Development League to eight points with a 5-0 victory over Ballymena United Reserves last night.

Kyle Anderson, Conor Scannell and Calvin McCurry were also on target for Brendan Lynch’s side, who hold three games in hand over nearest challengers, Crusaders Reserves.

McKiernan (pictured) broke the deadlock towards the end of a tight first-half when he was provided with a tap-in by Padraig Slane’s free-kick and the same player put the Reds 2-0 in front on 39 minutes after seizing on a pass from McCurry, beating his man and confidently finishing past the keeper.

The visitors put the outcome beyond doubt seven minutes after the turnaround thanks to Anderson’s low strike before Scannell’s sensational strike made it 4-0.

Six minutes from time, McCurry put the seal on things with a fine strike from outside the box from Stephen McGuinness’ throw-in.